Resources & references

An online destination for discovery & deeper understanding.

Check back often as we add more resources.

Our website is an ever-growing hub of reference material for anyone interested in learning more about music therapy: videos, presentations, interviews, articles, research papers, informations about the profession of music therapist and other documents to better understand music therapy and its benefits.

If you have references to propose that we could add to our database, please use this Resource Sharing Form.

By default, all references are listed. Select a category in the drop-down menu to refine your search and/or type one or more words into the search bar and select keywords from the drop-down list. 

You can also click on any of the keywords shown in the detailed description of a reference to explore other ressources.

If you don't find what you are looking for, please contact us so we can help.

5 results
Hear Our Voices: A Music Therapy Songwriting Program and the Message of the Little Saints through the Medium of Rap
2011
Author
Scott MacDonald, Michael Viega
Language
English
Source / Publisher
Routledge

This chapter details a unique music therapy songwriting program, Hear Our Voices, and the songwriting process of the Little Saints, a group of “at-risk” fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade children in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The authors, who were also the music therapists working with this group, discuss the relevance of Hip-Hop culture, and its musical framework, to the music therapy process, and to the success of the program. 

It Is Not Just Music and Rhythm . . . Evaluation of a Drumming-Based Intervention to Improve the Social Wellbeing of Alienated Youth
2012
Author
Simon Faulkner, Lisa Wood, Penny Ivery and Robert Donovan
Language
English
Source / Publisher
Children Australia

The Discovering Relationship Using Music, Beliefs, Emotions, Attitudes & Thoughts (DRUMBEAT) program used drumming as a way of engaging at risk youth in a form of musical expression, while simultaneously incorporating themes and discussions relating to healthy relationships with others. The results support the underlying program theory, that combining the therapeutic potential of musical expression with basic cognitive–behavioural therapy can be used successfully to deliver a range of social learning outcomes, including emotional control, improved relationships and increased self-esteem.

Social-emotional learning through a drumming intervention
2020
Author
Jennifer StGeorge; Emily Freeman.
Language
English
Source / Publisher
Music Therapy Perspectives

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the program DRUMBEAT (Discovering Relationships Using Music, Beliefs, Emotions, Attitudes and Thoughts), a ten-week school-based intervention. Linear mixed model analyses showed there were significant improvements in students’ self-esteem, and internalising and externalising behaviours, as reported by students and teachers. Drumming has the potential to draw young people into an educative environment where rhythm, collaboration and discussion can enhance understanding of intra- and interpersonal processes.

The drum circle project: A qualitative study with at-risk youth in a school setting
2010
Author
Shelley Snow, Miranda D'Amico
Language
English
Source / Publisher
Canadian Journal of Music Therapy

This paper describes a qualitative study that explores possible therapeutic benefits from the implementation of a music therapy drumming circle with at-risk youth in an alternative high school. The results could contribute to the development of this model for music therapists by 1) contributing to our understanding of how this process can work; 2) informing our understanding of therapeutic benefits and potential; 3) informing practice within school settings by music therapists.

The use of group drumming-based music therapy with male adolescents in a school violence prevention program in Korea: A pilot study
2022
Author
Eun Sil Suh
Language
English
Source / Publisher
Psychology of Music

This study investigated how a drumming experience influences students’ aggression and narrative experience as related to school violence. Participants were 15- to 16-year-old students from two classes in a men’s high school in a Southeastern city in Korea. The qualitative data indicated that group drumming may enhance self-esteem, assertiveness, emotional expression, anger management skills, cooperation, feelings of unity, empathy, and active listening skills.